For many Airbnb hosts, the winter months can be the most difficult in terms of bookings and earnings. Many of them struggle with questions like how to keep up consistent occupancy and income as there are fewer bookings and the demand is also lower than usual. However, this doesn’t have to be the case the winter season can also be used as a time to enhance your brand, appeal to different types of guests, and gain a foothold in the short-term rental market throughout the year.
Such setbacks can be turned into an opportunity to make your business more appealing during these months and even add value to your portfolio. In this article, we shall discuss the four key strategies that will help you significantly increase your Airbnb sales in the winter months. These strategies are straightforward to implement, so your property will not be lost during the off-peak season.
It’s also helpful to target the right audience and promote the benefits of your business which might secure more clientele. It’s ideas such as these that you should seek to implement in order to secure greater success for your property throughout the year. There are certain untapped opportunities in the world of Airbnb that can further enhance the scope of other businesses, many of which can go unnoticed.
1. Build Relationships with Local Management Companies
Networking is often ignored within the world of Airbnb. However, such connections, for instance with local property management companies, can place your business ahead. They manage a variety of properties and often have many clients on waiting lists looking for certain properties with specific features. So, working with them helps market your property as a valid substitute.
Why This Strategy Works:
Word of Mouth: People seeking guests often contact a management company, and if that company cannot assist them, they are likely to recommend another management company they trust. Yours could be among the first in their recommendations.
Specialization: Such professionals are proficient in the rental market of your location and know firsthand what’s in demand, the cost of rental and the type of guests.
Prospect: A well-recognized presence in the management circle makes it easier to form partnerships and carry out joint promotions.
How to Implement This Tip
Identify five management companies that have a good reputation and have offices close to the location of your property.
Contact them through emails, or telephone, or even visit them in their offices to tell them who you are and how your property can add value to their portfolio.
Provide incentives that they would find convincing such as paying them a certain percentage for every successful booking they direct to you.
With this strategy in mind, you will be able to ensure a regular flow of guests.
2. List Your Property on Alternative Booking Platforms
Although people mostly use Airbnb when looking for short-stay apartments, having multiple places to market oneself can increase bookings greatly. Other sites like Comfy Workers, Situ, and SilverDoor suit particular customers such as business executives, contractors or long-stay customers all of whom are very active throughout winter.
Why Diversify Your Listings:
Engage New Clients: Clients of Comfy Workers and SilverDoor will mostly be corporate people and business travelers therefore secure bookings that are longer.
Consistent Revenues: Business travel does not change with seasons, unlike leisure tourism.
Wider Audience: If you put your property for rent on more than one website it will be seen by more people and thus rented out.
Steps to Expand to New Platforms:
Register accounts and structures on global platforms such as Comfy Workers, Situ, and SilverDoor.
Promote facilities like high-speed Internet, work desk, or early check-in or late check-out since these are important for most business travelers.
Ensure calendars are up to date so you don’t have two customers at the same time.
This strategy entails from start planning how best to utilize the property on Airbnb and all sites to maximize income from an investment property in the winter.
3. Engage Past Guests Through WhatsApp Marketing
In the short-term rental industry, retaining guests seems to be the lost art. Bookings from guests who were satisfied the first time and inviting them back become easier with the leverage of great offers. Rather than sticking to emails as a means of advertising, utilize WhatsApp for one-to-one interactions regarding advertisements.
Some Reasons Why WhatsApp is so Important:
Increased Chances of Receiving a Response: When it comes to reading and responding to WhatsApp messages, the fingers usually win compared to the email campaign percentages.
Easier Interactions: Guests always look forward to sweet and casual conversations rather than scripted marketing gimmicks.
Immediate Action: In such a world where we want instant action, WhatsApp communications can assist in easy and speedy bookings and help the cause.
What’s the best way to carry out WhatsApp campaigns?
During stays, collect (with permission) the phone numbers of previous guests and let them know about their potential discounts.
Draft a simple invitation for visitors about winter promotions or some significant changes to the structure.
Showcase lovely pictures from the winter season and mention some new features like the fire heater, or mattress heating.
Sample message:
“Hi [Guest Name], it was our pleasure to host you sometime during the year! We are delighted to offer you a special 20% discount as you are our repeated guest! With winter around the corner, you can book yourself a wonderful winter holiday by the fireplace! Book now and don’t beat around anymore to secure your stay.”
4. Offer Attractive Length-of-Stay Discounts
Longer stays have been popular for many travelers during the winter season, be it snowbird vacationers, remote workers, or those on a long vacation. To attract such guests, offering discounts on a weekly or monthly rental will be beneficial for your property.
Why Length-of-Stay Discounts Work:
Improved Occupancy Rates: When guests have longer stays, there are fewer days without occupancy resulting in more consistent earnings.
Less Expenditure: Having guests that stay longer helps you economize on cleaning and turnover by hosting fewer venues.
Good for People Working Remotely: In the winter months many professionals are working remotely who need accommodation and a workplace in one location.
How to Implement Length-of-Stay Discounts:
On Airbnb, go to your pricing settings and set up promotions for weekly (7+ nights) and monthly (30+ nights) clients.
On Booking.com, offer guests who make longer bookings a custom promotion that you’ve already settled on.
Put the discounts up on the property listing title or the description, for example, “Book 7+ nights and get a 15% Discount!”.
Implementing these discounts will be beneficial in targeting such travelers who will also improve the chances of making the most out of Airbnb during the winter period.
Additional Tips for Winter Success
Include Seasonal Decor: Use holiday decorations, lighting, and other seasonal touches to make the property look welcoming and warm.
Expose the Winter Features of the Property: Look for other guest-friendly features like heated blankets and fire pits for guests looking for warmth and comfort in winter.
Mutually Acceptable Cancellation Terms: Modifying their relaxation terms encourages certain guests, especially during this period when much is not assured.
Promote Special Winter Packages: Build up seasonal packages like winter romantic getaways and family holiday getaways that offer complimentary items like hot cocoa or mulled wine.
Conclusions.
Winter does not have to be a dead season for the hosts on Airbnb. A combination of the right approaches can see any such period turned into one with greater opportunities. These include venturing into partnerships with local management firms, exploring other channels outside Airbnb, reaching out to previous clients on WhatsApp, and having strong Mono length of stay promos.
Would you like to implement these challenges to your business and expand your Airbnb? Make that very first step today, and witness how winter becomes a truly successful period of the year for your business. For any other additional comments, tips or questions feel free to drop them in the comments section below.
